Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-04-16
LATER DETAILS.
A Further List of Buildings Demolished BY |
the Cyclone.

a Further List OF Buildings Demolished by
the Cyclone.
The cyclone struck st. Clairsyille with
ali its violence and with terrible results,
and it seemed that the whole town was
doomed to destruction by the irresisGbls
force of the wind. A citizen gives the fol-
lOwidg description of the advent of the
storm:
at was about 3 O'Clock and Is minutes
when heard = rumbling in the west as if
train of cars were passing along. Before |
had chance to think Of the cause, no.
ticed black cloud in the west
whirling toward the city, and then it sud
denly flashed across my mind that we were
to meet cyclone, and it seemed hardly an
instant till the wind was in the city tear
ing its way through houses and whatever
came in its path. The cyclone first swOop
Ell down to the earth at the county inirm-
AIRY, four miles west of the city, where it
picked up the large barn on the farm and
Scattered it right and left, on its way TAX
Ing the power house with it. The infirm-
ary WAS not injured st all rs far rs could
ne learned, although the inmates were
terribly frightened.
Then coming on in toward the city 1t
attempted 20 destroy everything in its
path, and succeeded pretty well. A gen
tleman who waS Just outside the town
saw the cyclone coming, and tells the fol-
lowing story of his experience: Being
near post which was solidly buried in
the ground laid down beside it, hugging
it aud the ground as closely rs possible.
When the wild westeTner' struck ME it
vas dark ~ pitch, and l could see moth
ing whatever. 1t was all | could do to
hold myself b the post, as the wind got
under me and lifted He from the ground.
| closed my eyes and when | opened them
again the cyclone had passed and branches
uf trees we're scattered about and a large
limb WAS lying net tep feet away from
where lay. Did git up and git2' Well
yes"
When the "clOne" struck the town il
seemed to 90 right in among the best houses
and attempt their ruin. Some of the most
substantial buildings in the city were those
most injured, among them being the build
ing in which the First National
bank is located. This WAS a substantial
two-stOry brick, and the upper story was
literally torn 10 pieces, the bricks being
scattered about like feathers.
Another notable instance of its fury is
the case sfthe United Presbyterian Church,
which was a brick building of two and
half stories. II was swept almost level
with the ground.
Lewis Merdaughs Touring mill Just be-
low it was badly injured, most of the ma
chinery being damaged. The fair grounds
were entirely cleaned out, only one or
tgo trees being left standing, and all the
buildings swept away. At the public
school a panic resulted. The doors were
all locked but the children became SO
frightened that many Ofthem Jumped from
the windows and some were slightly in
jured.
Hacks and wagons were swept from the
ground and thrown over on the horses, tin
roofs sailed through tine air accompanied
by shingles, boards and bricks, and
most wonderful to relate only several per-
sons were injured-one, John Reilly, hav-
ing leg broken and Cop Troll an arm.
Ina Tallman, a school girl, had one of ber
legs painfully injured Clifford Cochran,
driver of hack, was thrown off near the
b. & O. depot and was quite badly injured.
Besides those mentioned above, the fol-
lowing buildings were more or less in
iured: National Hotel, roof blown off; top
of barn also blown of; Piekering's barn
root blown off; Mrs Stamps residence;
Mrs. Kerr's residence; d.IArrick's house
and barn on the c., l.. X W. road; George
Barnes house, total wreck; VIM. Shoe
makers wagon house; Blackford school
house, at Scotch Ridge; Henry Beem's
wagon house school building slightly
damaged.
The greatest damage was in the western
part of the town, from the new Court
House out, although there are few build
ings in the place that are not damaged to
some extent The old Court House was
slightly injured, but the new one escaped,
The loss in st. ClairSville is estimated at
anywhere from $50, 600 to $l75, 900, and
il will he a long time before she will as
sume hef Ranted appearance. Ii was
learned later that Judge John Cochran had
one OF his hands badly injured.
All the wires are down and eOmmuniea-
tod by that method with the outside
world is cut on.
TWO DRUMhERs' EXPERIENCE.
Mr.. B. w. Payne, a commercial travel
er from Philadelphia, who was struck
by the cyclone thus describes his
experience: 81 went through one Of
the most severe cyclones that ever happen
ed in this part of the country. got off
Of the B. & o. train ct the depot at about
two o'clock, (Central). As stepped of the
train things looked very dark toward the
West which | thought would be . heagy
rain storm, got in an old riekety buSl to
which one horse was attached at the depot |
and had only gone about hundred yards
when looked out and saw Q heavy wind
storm coming in my direction. Stepping |
out Of the back Of the buss while |
in motion, beekOned to friend, who was |
also there, to get out As raised my
eyes saw something that looked like yell |
low smoke rise over hill about 3 quarter !
Of a mile distant. The next second saw |
the roof Of house, that stood on the hill, |
raise up and ay in my direction. The